Envelope opener



6, 1 4 P. VALLARELLI I 2,298,024

ENVELOPE OPENER V Filed April 15, 1942 @Sheets-Sheet l Inventor Pzsyvwa/ze VaZZZzareZZ z' 0 6' HML Utbmeflj Oct. 6, 1942- 2 P. VALLARELLI 2,298,024

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$5 12.22? iazz e zzv' I By WWW "Ms Patented Oct. 6, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ENVELOPE OPENER Pasquale Vallarelli, Leavenworth, Kans.

Application April 15, 1942, Serial No. 439,137

Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in openers for envelopes, the principal object of the invention being to provide an opener which can be used to open letters without roughly ripping the envelope or mutilating the contained letter.

Another important object of the invention is to provide an opener which will not only be simple to construct and easy to operate, but which will be exceedingly quick and appreciated by business houses handling considerable mail.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to the reader of the following description.

In the drawings- Figure 1 represents a bottom plan View of the opener.

Figure 2 is an edge elevational view.

Figure 3 is a section on the line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a plan view of the back plate.

Figure 6 is an inside elevational view of the pocketed wing member.

Figure 7 is an edge elevational view of the member shown in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a top plan view of the wing member complementary to the wing member shown in Figure 6.

Figure 9 is an edge elevational view of the wing member shown in Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a plan view of the trap plate.

Figure 11 is an edge elevational View of the plate shown in Figure 10.

Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals designate like parts, it can be seen that numeral 5 denotes a back plate or body substantially square in shape, having at least three corners a, b and 0, while the remaining corner is substituted for by a projecting stock 6, which can lay against the palm of the hand when the implement is in use.

Secured to the back 5 at one side thereof by screws 1 passing through openings 8 in the back 5, are wing plates 9, II], the plate 9 having openings ll therein for accommodating the screws 1. The forward end portion of the plate 9 at its straight edge I2 is formed with a groove l3 for receiving the corresponding corner portion of a blade I4, such as a razor blade, which projects through one corner portion of a rectangular shaped pocket l5 formed in the complementary wing plate Ill. The plate II) has an opening l6 for one of the screws 1, and a second opening ll which comes through the bottom of the pocket I5, and a bolt or screw can be disposed through this opening I! and into a trap plate l8 which snugly fits in the pocket I 5.

Studs [9, I9 rise from the bottom of the pocket I5 and project through the usual openings in the razor blade [4, and as can be seen in Figures 3 and 4, the trap plate [8 is formed with small recesses 20 at the bottom thereof to receive the upper ends of these studs.

The Wing plate I0 at one end of the trap plate I8 is formed with a fingernail receiving slot 2| so that the plate l8 can be pryed loose after the.-.

screw 22 has been loosened.

As can be seen in Figure 1, the wing plates 9, ID; are closely spaced apart with the projecting; corner portion of the blade traversing the same: and partly projecting into the slot I3 of the wing; plate 9. This defines a slotway 23 in which the: edge portion of a letter envelope can be received and at the entrance end of this, the wing plates. 9, ID are cut off on arcs 24 to facilitate application of the opener to an envelope.

A slight movement of the opener along the edge of an envelope will'cut the envelope with precision and without mutilation, and without in any way damaging the contents of the envelope although the envelope may be entirely filled by its contents.

While the foregoing specification sets forth the invention in specific terms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, size and materials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A letter opener comprising a back member, a pair of closely spaced members on one side of the back defining a slideway, and a blade carried by one of the members and intersecting the slideway.

2. A letter opener comprising a back member, a pair of closely spaced members on one side of the back defining a slideway, and a blade carried by one of the members and intersecting the slideway, said member carrying the blade being formed with a pocket for receiving the blade, and a trap plate for closing the pocket.

3. A letter opener comprising a back member, a pair of closely spaced members on one side of the back defining a slideway, and a blade carried by one of the members and intersecting the slideway, said member carrying the blade being formed with a pocket for receiving the blade, and

a trap plate for closing the pocket, said pocket having stud members for position through a blade, said trap plate having recesses therein for receiving the studs.

4. An opener of the character described comprising a plate having a finger engageable stock at one portion thereof, outwardly protruding members on the plate closely spaced to define an envelope receiving slot, a blade carried by one of the members, the other member having a recess therein for receiving a portion of the blade, and a closure plate for the blade.

5. An opener of the character described comprising a plate having a finger engageable stock at one portion thereof, outwardly protruding members on the plate closely spaced to define an envelope receiving slot, a blade carried by one of the members, the other member having a recess therein for receiving a portion of the blade, and a closure plate for the blade, said members on the plate being removably attached to the plate.

PASQUALE VALLARELLI. 

